Rating: 
Summary: so borrrrrrring
Review: Sweet Memories is not one of Spencer's best, but it is in good standing with her exceptional ability to bring the reader into the story. She knows her characters and writes of them as if she is the actress portraying the part. She must have used a model for this heroine, because she wrote a little too close to home about the typical red head, fair skinned woman and her personal problems with blushing, sun burn and frizzy hair syndrome. All in all, the characters were perfect, the setting was perfect and like I said, you really felt you were in their lives. Spencer is a very descriptive writer and researches her settings in depth no matter how simple the setting. This one really brings you into the typical American home in the late 70's/early 80's.
As for the Freed book, it was pathetic to compare her to Spencer. There is no comparison. Freed started out with a great concept and went off in the strangest direction. Two chapters into the book and they're getting mugged in a latino ghetto? Huh? What did that have to do with anything? Just bring the hero and heroine together in any light and stay there. That's what LS does so perfectly. She writes a romantic story about 2 people. She doesn't stray from them. I put the book down at that part and would have thrown it away if it weren't for the fact that it was my only copy of Sweet Memories.
Jan Freed should try READING a Spencer novel before she attempts to share a book jacket. If I were LaVyrle, I'd sue the publisher!!
Rating: 
Summary: Four Stars for Spencer 0 for Freed
Review: Sweet Memories is not one of Spencer's best, but it is in good standing with her exceptional ability to bring the reader into the story. She knows her characters and writes of them as if she is the actress portraying the part. She must have used a model for this heroine, because she wrote a little too close to home about the typical red head, fair skinned woman and her personal problems with blushing, sun burn and frizzy hair syndrome. All in all, the characters were perfect, the setting was perfect and like I said, you really felt you were in their lives. Spencer is a very descriptive writer and researches her settings in depth no matter how simple the setting. This one really brings you into the typical American home in the late 70's/early 80's.
As for the Freed book, it was pathetic to compare her to Spencer. There is no comparison. Freed started out with a great concept and went off in the strangest direction. Two chapters into the book and they're getting mugged in a latino ghetto? Huh? What did that have to do with anything? Just bring the hero and heroine together in any light and stay there. That's what LS does so perfectly. She writes a romantic story about 2 people. She doesn't stray from them. I put the book down at that part and would have thrown it away if it weren't for the fact that it was my only copy of Sweet Memories.
Jan Freed should try READING a Spencer novel before she attempts to share a book jacket. If I were LaVyrle, I'd sue the publisher!!
Rating: 
Summary: Wonderful Story !!!
Review: This book is a favourite of mine. Ms. Spencer made magic with this Inspiring love story. The Hero, Brian captured my heart with his Emotinal Depth, the way he saw beyond the surface to love Theresa for the beauty of WHO she was and not for anything superficial. Ms. Spencer used this story to touch on a woman's insecurities and how profoundly they can control one's life. Even though the average reader won't share this heroine's particular problem. Everyone has issues and insecurities so that they can empathize with her. Everyone should have a Brian in their life! I don't understand any negative reviews. I found this a sweet, touching love story. I highly recommend this book.
Rating: 
Summary: Boring Memories would be more Accurate
Review: This book was not the usual Spencer book. It had no compelling storyline and the love story was very boring. It starts with a big breasted lady named Theresa meeting her brother's handsome friend Brian. While there are some cute 80's references in their that you don't get out of too many sappy books, it was hard to stay awake long enough to remember the story. She goes through a breast reduction surgery and he gets peeved. The book blurb says he gets totally upset about it and the book only showed him mildly upset. There's never in any part of the book any "real" emotions from eithier of the main characters. The only "real" person in the story is the mother. And she's portrayed as the "bad" guy because she is so bossy and runs the family.
Rating:
Summary: You can't judge a book by its cover...
Review: This is the first book I've read by the author. I was very impressed. Well-endowed women are no strangers to the genre. However, LaVryle Spencer has gone beyond using a character as comedy relief or the object of male lust to deal with a very real problem for many women. To her credit, Spencer is not preachy, but she makes her point with subtle grace. Theresa Brubaker has been trapped in a body that has robbed her of many things others take for granted: the ability to buy clothes she likes, participation in sports, dancing and dating. Because of her oversized bustline, man have come in two categories: the gropers and the gawkers. As a result, Theresa has shied away from relationships with men. When Brian Scanlon, her brother's best friend and Air Force buddy, comes to visit during the Christmas holiday, Theresa can't escape him. They are thrown together in a variety of circumstances. She finds that Brian is different -- warm, sensitive and willing to look beyond Theresa's er, "endowment" and her insecurities. He is patient and willing to teach her how to love and be loved. The book slowly unfolds during the first six months of their relationship. It is not an "Ugly Duckling" story, by any means. It is a story of trust, giving and discovery. I heard the audiotape before I read the book. While Constance Towers is a good reader, I knew there was more to this story than the audiocassette shared. The book was warmer and filled out the characters for me.
Rating:
Summary: My first and favorite novel from this author
Review: This is the first novel that I read from this author and in this genre. I think that it was a wonderfrul book becasue it sounded like a story that could happen to anyone any day of the week. The story is about a family with three siblings, The oldest sister Theresa who is a school teacher who is well endowed, Brian the middle child who joined the air force right out of hig school, and the baby sister Amy who is everything Theresa ever wanted to be...thin, peepy, popular. Theresa lacks confidence in herself for one reason. All her young life she has been burdened with her chest size. Boys treated her differently, she was never comfortable doing the things she loved and eventually had to give everything up due to her "deformaty"
Now being a 17 year old small chested girl myself I got to see the alternate side of my sob story. I always wished for a better endowment and I even thought of getting enhancement surgry when I was old enough. Reading this story made me realize how lucky I was. When boys talked to me I knew it wasn't because they wanted to try to feel the chalkboard on my chest, I could run, and dance, and wear cute clothes without people gawking and staring. I finally viewed myself as lucky for my shape, compared to that of Theresa's. Back to her story anyway....
For 11 years Theresa endured pain, humiliation and sorrow due to her condition, then off a plane came her dream come true. Brian. A young air force piolet who looked past the problem and saw the beauty on the inside of Theresa. Don't get me wrong, the man wasn't blind or stupid, he was understanding patient, and kind. Everything the other men never were to Theresa. This is a wonderful story about a young woman and her love for a man and eventually for herself. We all have insecurities in life and this is a nice story about a womna overcoming hers. A great read! Enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: This is my favorite book of all times!!!
Review: This was such a great book!! My sister originally got this book from the library and was reading it to me. I said that is so good--let me read it for myself! After that there was no going back. I bought the book and now I read it at least once a year. The book doesn't go too fast and warms your heart. You've got to read this if you're a contemporary romance fan!!
Rating:
Summary: a wonderful story
Review: This was the first book of the authors that I had the pleasure of reading. I have read it many many times since. It is a wonderful touching story. I have read all of the authors books and this is my favorite.
Rating:
Summary: Mixed Bag--but buy it for the Freed!
Review: When I reviewed this book for All About Romance, I gave the Lavyrle Spencer story a C-, and the Jan Freed story an A."Sweet Memories" is a reprint of a 1984 romance by Spencer, and it shows its age. I admit to being a relatively new romance fan, and I like the snappy fast paced romances prevalent now. The slow, dragging story, zero action, and painfully self-conscious afterschool special "message" (Breast reduction surgery can be a Very Good Thing!) made this story a chore to get through, although the writing is very good. The Jan Freed story, "One Tough Texan", on the other hand, is everything I like. There's certainly nothing new to the plot--rancher has to raise orphaned niece and falls in love with the woman acting as a nanny/surrogate mom to the little girl--but Freed makes the characters come alive as individuals who are quirky and believable. It's too bad you have to buy both books to get this one, but it is definitely worth it!
Rating:
Summary: Mixed Bag--but buy it for the Freed!
Review: When I reviewed this book for All About Romance, I gave the Lavyrle Spencer story a C-, and the Jan Freed story an A. "Sweet Memories" is a reprint of a 1984 romance by Spencer, and it shows its age. I admit to being a relatively new romance fan, and I like the snappy fast paced romances prevalent now. The slow, dragging story, zero action, and painfully self-conscious afterschool special "message" (Breast reduction surgery can be a Very Good Thing!) made this story a chore to get through, although the writing is very good. The Jan Freed story, "One Tough Texan", on the other hand, is everything I like. There's certainly nothing new to the plot--rancher has to raise orphaned niece and falls in love with the woman acting as a nanny/surrogate mom to the little girl--but Freed makes the characters come alive as individuals who are quirky and believable. It's too bad you have to buy both books to get this one, but it is definitely worth it!
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